Isurumuniya is a
Buddhist
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...
temple
A temple (from the Latin ) is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. Religions which erect temples include Christianity (whose temples are typically called churches), Hinduism (whose temples ...
situated near to the
Tissa Wewa (Tisa tank) in
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura ( si, අනුරාධපුරය, translit=Anurādhapuraya; ta, அனுராதபுரம், translit=Aṉurātapuram) is a major city located in north central plain of Sri Lanka. It is the capital city of North Central ...
,
Sri Lanka. There are four carvings of special interest in this
Vihara. They are the
Isurumuniya Lovers,
Elephant Pond and
The Royal Family
A royal family is the immediate family of kings/queens, emirs/emiras, sultans/ sultanas, or raja/ rani and sometimes their extended family. The term imperial family appropriately describes the family of an emperor or empress, and the term ...
.
History
The ancient Meghagiri Vihara or Meygiri Vihara is presently identified as the Isurumuni Vihara. It was built by King
Devanampiya Tissa
Tissa, later Devanampiya Tissa, was one of the earliest kings of Sri Lanka based at the ancient capital of Anuradhapura from 247 BC to 207 BC. His reign was notable for the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka under the aegis of the Mauryan ...
(307 BC to 267 BC) who ruled in the ancient
Sri Lankan capital of
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura ( si, අනුරාධපුරය, translit=Anurādhapuraya; ta, அனுராதபுரம், translit=Aṉurātapuram) is a major city located in north central plain of Sri Lanka. It is the capital city of North Central ...
.
[ After 500 children of high-caste were ordained, Isurumuniya was built for them to reside.] King Kasyapa I (473-491 AD) again renovated this viharaya and named it as "Boupulvan, Kasubgiri Radmaha Vehera" giving the names of his 2 daughters and his name. There is a viharaya connected to a cave and above is a cliff. A small stupa is built on it. It can be seen that the constructional work of this stupa belongs to the present period. Lower down on both sides of a cleft, in a rock that appears to rise out of a pool, have been carved the figures of elephants. On the rock is carved the figure of a horse. The carving of Isurumuniya lovers on the slab has been brought from another place and placed it there. A few yards away from this vihara is the Ranmasu Uyana
Ranmasu Uyana is a park in Sri Lanka containing the ancient Magul Uyana (Royal Gardens). It is situated close to Isurumuni Vihara and Tissa Wewa in the ancient sacred city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It sits on approximately , and is a noted e ...
.
Archaeological ruins
‘Siddha mahayaha kuni – maha (la) ka Asala yaha (di) ni’
ail! The cell of Mahaya is given to Venerable Asalaya
The above Brahmi inscription was inscribed at the original place where the Isurumuniya Lovers were originally sculptured and placed. It is a special one as a letter in this inscription is 3 inches x 4 inches in size. After donating Vessagiriya to Maha Sangha this sculpture would have been removed and placed at its present place. The Lovers in the sculptured plaque are King Kuvera Vaisrawana and his Queen Kuni. Ramayana states that Vaisrawana who lived in Vessagiriya ruled Sri Lanka from Lankapura before Rawana.[''Sri Lanka Rawana Rajadhaniya'', by Sri Harsha Indrasena, Appendix 3]
Royal Family Carving
*Place: Isurumuniya Viharaya
*Century: 8th century A.D
*Period: Anuradhapura Period
*Tradition: ''Guptha Kala'' (mystic)
*Medium: Granite
*Method: low relief "''Ardha Unnata''"
The Royal Family carving is carved on a Granite plate.There are five human figures carved on this plate. The human figure in the center is King Dutugamunu, who has a tall crown on his head and a "''puna noola''" around his chest. At his left are another two human figures. They are fanning him with a "''Wijinipath''"
Elephant Pond Carving
*Place: Isurumuniya Rock
*Century: 7th century A.D
*Period: Anuradhapura Period
*Tradition: ''Pallawa''
*Medium: Granite
*Method: low relief "''Ardha Unnata''"
There are four elephants in this carving. It shows them bathing. The elephant figures here are very similar to the elephant figures in "''Mamallapuram''" In India.
SL Anuradhapura asv2020-01 img21 Isurumuniya Temple.jpg, Isurumuniya temple front view
SL Anuradhapura asv2020-01 img20 Isurumuniya Temple.jpg, Interior of Isurumuniya temple
Lovers of Isurumuniya.jpg, Isurumuniya Lovers-Pem-Yuwala-Dutugemunu's son Saliya and the low caste (Sadol Kula) maiden Asokamala whom he loved
Isurumuniya Royal Family.jpg, Royal Family carving in the Isurumuniya Viharaya
Bathing Elephants of Isurumuniya.jpg, Elephant pond carving in Isurumuniya
See also
* Ancient constructions of Sri Lanka
*Atamasthana
Atamasthana () or Eight sacred places are a series of locations in Sri Lanka where the Buddha had visited during his three visits to the country. The sacred places are known as Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya, Ruwanwelisaya, Thuparamaya, Lovamahapaya, Abhaya ...
*Buddhism
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and gra ...
* Mahawamsa.
References
External links
{{Commons category
ඉසුරුමුණි කලාව(Article from Divaina)
Anuradhapura period
Archaeological protected monuments in Anuradhapura District
Buddhist temples in Anuradhapura